Stranded Bottlenose Dolphin Dies During Rescue Attempt in Cape May Creek

A bottlenose dolphin that had been stranded in Skeeter Island Creek, Cape May Court House, New Jersey, died during a rescue attempt by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. The dolphin, named Courtney May, had been in the creek for several days, likely attracted by the abundant food supply. Over a dozen rescuers, using three boats, initially attempted to guide the dolphin out of the creek with less-invasive herding techniques, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

The rescue team then resorted to an in-water capture using nets. However, the dolphin panicked within two minutes of being captured and subsequently died. The dolphin was immediately transported to the New Jersey Animal Health and Diagnostic Lab for a full necropsy and acoustic testing. The incident underscores the complexities involved in rescuing marine mammals that stray into unfamiliar environments.